Christie’s Confirms Exciting New Cars for Retromobile

Written by Auction News

Paris – Christie’s International Motor Cars is delighted to announce that once again it will be in Paris for Rétromobile 2007, Europe’s most prestigious classic car show. With over 100,000 visitors expected to attend this annual event at Rétromobile, the Christie’s sales on Friday 16th (automobilia) and Saturday 17th February (motor cars) promise to offer a fine array of collectibles sure to whet the appetite of established collectors and motoring enthusiasts around the globe, as well as those looking to absorb the atmosphere.

Now in its 6th year, Christie’s Rétromobile sale looks set to eclipse all previous years, with a major consignment of cars from an important private collection contributing to anhistorically significant selection of collector’s vehicles.

Included in the sale:1951 Talbot Lago T26GS “Barquette”, coachwork byDugarreau; the very car in which Pierre Levegh singlehandedly drove the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1952, and in which he would have won but for mechanical failure in the 23rd hour. Although at Le Mans again in 1953 and 1954, its greatest successes came with three successive wins at the Coupe d’Automne again driven by Levegh. Estimate €1,400,000-1,600,000

1936 Mercedes 540K Cabriolet A; one of around twenty“interim” examples which enjoy the more graceful coachworkof the earlier 500K married with the more powerful engine ofthe 540K. What makes this particular car more special still is that it has remained in the same French ownership since new. Estimate: €1,250,000-1,650,000

1927 Amilcar MCO; the most competitive of all the Amilcars,and the rarest: only two single-seaters were constructed onshortened a CO chassis, both powered by the company’s ownsupercharged, 1,100cc six-cylinder engine. This car broke six speed records for the 1,100cc class in 1927 and 1928 in the hands of works driver Morel. It was then sold to and raced by Maurice Mestivier, president of the AGACI. Estimate: €300,000-400,000

1948 Delahaye 135MS Drophead Coupé, coachwork by Antem;one of the first cars built by the marque after the Second World War, and one of only a handful of the top-of-the-range 135MS models to be executed by the famous Belgian coachbuilder. Estimate: €160,000-260,000

1908 Panhard-Levassor Y Type Open Drive Limousine,coachwork by J. Rothschild and Son; with six-cylinder engineand chain drive. This car was formerly the property of Dr A.D. Juilliard of the New York Music School. It has been in the current ownership for over 30 years. Estimate: €160,000-200,000

1950 Talbot T26GS Berlinette; reputed to be the last of just 30 such examples built, it was raced extensively by first owner Lucien Vincent and his friend Lino Fayen before passing to racing-car collector Paul Bignon. Restored by Carrosserie Lecoq. Estimate: €150,000-250,000

1930 Derby K4 Low-Chassis Roadster; the only remainingexample of its kind, and formerly of the Serge PozzoliCollection, this beautiful and unique car has remained in France throughout its life. Estimate: €110,000-160,000

1974 Citroën DS23 IE Décapotable Automatic; the only DSDécapotable ever to have left the factory equipped with a fullyautomatic gearbox. Estimate: €90,000-130,000

1950 Gatsonides Barchetta; the only Barchetta ever built by the marque, and, of the ten cars built by Gatsonides, this is the only car to survive to date. Estimate: €90,000-130,000

Formula One; in the context of the fierce battle between Renault and Ferrari over the recent season, it gives us great pleasure to present a Formula One car from each stable, both dating from the early 1980s and the famous era of the turbocharger…

Also featured will be a number of road-going Ferraris from an important private collection, including a beautifully-preserved F40 (estimate: €250,000-350,000), a 365GTC (estimate: €160,000-220,000), and a 250GT Pininfarina Coupe (estimate: €90,000-140,000).

The full catalogue for the sale will be available from 18 January 2007.

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